LABOR WILL REVERSE PENALTY RATE CUTS WITHIN FIRST 100 DAYS OF A LABOR GOVERNMENT

Sharon Bird, Stephen Jones and Fiona Phillips today reaffirmed Labor’s commitment to reverse Malcolm Turnbull’s tax cuts for millionaires and multinationals and restore penalty rates within the first 100 days of a future Labor Government.

The decision announced today by the Fair Work Commission to reject an appeal against the penalty rates cuts is devastating for local workers.

Labor has put forward the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Take-Home Pay) Bill 2017 – and the Liberals have chosen not to support it and instead support the penalty rate cuts and reduce the wages of up to 700,000 low income workers.

Sharon Bird said that Malcolm Turnbull was out of touch with the community.

“I conducted a survey recently and over 80 per cent of respondent indicated that they opposed the cut to our most vulnerable workers. Workers in hospitality, retail and fast food occupations work long hours over the weekend and holidays to keep our vibrant hospitality industry open for business for locals and tourists. Slashing penalty rates also means that workers will have less money to spend in our local area and they will also find it harder to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Stephen Jones said families were already pressure and these cuts would hit some of the lowest paid workers hard.

“Families should be fairly compensated for being at work on weekends. Many of these workers miss family birthdays, weddings and other celebrations – they should be fairly compensated for the time they spend away from their families.

Fiona Phillips said this definitely was not a gift for local workers as described by Ann Sudmalis recently.

“This will have a devastating impact on young people and families who rely on penalty rates to make ends meet. These cuts will discourage many staff who are employed in the tourism industry on the South Coast from building a career in tourism-related industries like hospitality and retail.

Only Labor will reverse the Liberal’s tax cuts for millionaires and multinationals within the first 100 days of a Labor government.

Only Labor will restore penalty rates within the first 100 days of a Labor government.